Australian Government: Attorney-General's Department
Australian Government: Attorney-General's Department

Western Australia Arrangements

Legislation

In Western Australia there is currently no specific emergency management legislation. Emergency management arrangements are administered at State, regional, and local (municipal) levels, all ultimately responsible to the State Government.

Emergency / disaster management - State level

The Minister for Emergency Services has overall responsibility, and operates through the:

State Emergency Management Committee

The State Emergency Management Committee (SEMC) consists of representatives from organisations with a significant role in emergency operations, and is chaired by the Commissioner of Police. The role of the SEMC is to develop emergency management policy and provide direction, advice and support to government agencies, industry, commerce and the community so as to ensure an efficient emergency management capability for the State of Western Australia.

Hazard Management Agencies

Hazard Management Agencies are organisations which because of their legislative responsibility or specialised knowledge, expertise and resources, are responsible for ensuring that all emergency management activities pertaining to the prevention of, preparedness for, response to and recovery from a specific hazard are undertaken. This includes the preparation of the 'hazard' emergency management plan to cope with the particular hazard.

'Function' support organisations

Organisations whose response in an emergency is to provide support functions such as welfare, medical and health services and communications to either the designated Controller or Emergency Coordinator as appropriate to the situation, and are responsible for the preparation of the respective emergency management support plan.

Emergency / disaster management - below State level

For emergency management purposes, Western Australia has been divided into Emergency Management Districts, based on Police District boundaries, with the Perth Metropolitan area forming its own District for emergency management purposes. Each District has an Emergency Management Committee (DEMC), chaired by the Police District Officer (Police Commander Metropolitan for the Perth Metropolitan District). At municipal level, each community is encouraged to establish a Local Emergency Management Committee.

Control and coordination of operations

Control

The designated Hazard Management Agency has responsibility for activating and managing the response to a particular hazard through a designated Controller, at the appropriate level.

Operations Coordination Groups

The Hazard Management Agency is supported by an Operations Coordination Group (OCG), at the appropriate level. OCGs are the operational arm of the respective Emergency Management Committees at State, district and local level. They will be activated for the duration of an operation to provide an integrated approach to managing the emergency. The composition of the OCG will vary according to the nature and magnitude of the emergency. Its core composition, however, will include the Emergency Coordinator (chair), Chair and/or Deputy Chair and Executive Officer of the Emergency Management Committee, the relevant Hazard Management Agency, Recovery Coordinator, support and other organisations as appropriate.

Authority to request Australian Government assistance

The person authorised as the single point of contact for requesting Australian Government assistance to emergency operations in Western Australia is the State Emergency Coordinator (Commissioner of Police). The Action Officer is the Executive Officer SEMC (Executive Director, Emergency Management Services).

Contact for emergency / disaster management matters

Executive Officer SEMC
480 Hay Street
PERTH WA 6000
Phone: +61 (0)8 9323 9306
Fax: +61 (0)8 9323 9462